kurtzon



M.` KURTZON. couNTEn PRoTVEcTlNG BRACKET. APPLICATION FILED APR.551:919.

1,373,1 37; Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

2 SHEETS-'snm 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT l OFFICE..Y

MORRIS KURTZON, OF CHICAGQILLINOIS, `ASSIGrbTOR TO GARDEN CITY :PLATINO:6c MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A FIRM.

COUNTER-PROTECTING BRACKET.

Specication of Letters Patent. i

Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

Application med `April 5, 1919. serial No. 287,707.

To all whom 'it may concern f Be it known that I, Mouais KunrzoN, acitizen of the United States,` and a resident of the city ofChicago, inthe county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Counter-Protecting Brackets, of which thefollowingr is a specification.

My present invention appertains to structures :tor protecting countersand the like, in stores, restaurants, markets, and other'establishments, where it is `desirable to displayl articles ofmerchandise upon counters or tables. Specifically stated, my inventionhas reference to a bracket structure adapted to be secured to the edgeof the counter for supporting horizontally and vertically disposed glassplates that comprise the transparent front and top walls of what mightbe termed an open showcase, that is, closed upon the customers side ofthe counter to prevent loss or handling of the merchandise, and open onthe opposite side so that the trades persons may readily have accessthereto.

Among the divers objects of my invention is the provision of a bracketot' this character that will firmly clamp the glass plates so as toavoid accidental movement or dislocation thereof. Also it is one of myobjects to provide a bracket structure wherein a continuous strip ofsheet metal that is suitably bent, may be employed tor the purpose ofclamping both the vertical and the horizontal glass plates in position.In this connection I employ novel means for tasteni ing the saidclamping strip whereby it may be adjusted to accommodate glass plates ofdivers thicknesses, or to take lcare of inaccuracies in construction ofthe bracket proper, and I am also enabled by this structure to employglass plates that are continuous and extend across several brackets sothat the glass need not be cut in short lengths, such as would extendonly Jfrom one bracket to the next adjoining bracket. AA further objectis to provide a novel structure wherein a counter clamping `member ofmalleable cast metal may be dependably combined with standards andbraces of wrought metal; and I also have for an object the constructionof a bracket that is simple in design so that it may be quicklyandcheaply fabricated without detracting from its appearance ordependability, and may be readily installed.

All of the above objects I prefer to accomplish in the mannerhereinafter fully described and as illustrated in the drawings,reference now being had to said drawings that form a part of thisspecification, in which, i

Figure l is a side elevation of one of my brackets clamped to a displaycounter or other support.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail, partly in section, of the rear portion ofthev horizontal member of the bracket.

Fig. Bis an enlarged longitudinal section oi the assembly of the upperouter corner ot' structure illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4. is an enlarged detail of the lower or clamping end of thebracket standard.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5--5, of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on line 6-6, of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a length of counter that is protected withmy improved structure, illustrating the manner ofv using a continuousplate of glass and supporting the same upon several brackets.

Fig., 8 is a vertical elevation view from the `liront of the counter.

In the drawings, I` have employed similar reference characters todesignate identical elements throughout the views, and by referring tothe drawings it will be seen' that my bracket preferably consists of aystand ard member that has a lateral or horizontal extension at its upperend and at its lower end has provision for clamping the structure to theouter edge portion oi a counter, while coacting `elements are employedto clamp the plates of glass to the standard and its extension.

The iframe of the bracket preferably com prises the upright or standard10, having the horizontal shelf 1 1 extending laterally from the upperend thereof, said standard and shelf being preferably formed from anintegral strip or band of cold rolled wrought metal, of usual stock orcommercial form, and oit relatively small gage, that is bentinptermediate its ends at substantially a rightangle and braced by asegmental shaped strut 19., of the same commercial band metal disposedin a plane at a right angle to the l strip that connects the outer'portion of the shelf wit-hthe lower portion of the standard. Thee-'trut12 is secured in position by means or" angle-shaped corner cleats 13 and14, that are spot or electrically welded to the surfaces of the strut,standard and shelf, substantially in the manner shown.

At the lower end of the standard is a suitable malleable metal clamp 15,of somewhat Ll-'shape, while'the lower portion of the strut below thecleatsla is curved away from the standard and has its lower end securedin a slotted enibossment 1G, arising from the clamp, by means ot a rivet17,- or otherwise. @ne of the parallel arms 18 of the clamp is adaptedto rest ,upon the upper surface of Athe counter and the opposite arm 19eX- Atends below said counter and is provided with an adjusting bolt 20,for iirmly securing vthe clamp and bracket to the forward edge of thecounter. ln order to rigidly connect the standard to the clamp 1.5, thelatteris formed with an upright embossment 21, thatlias an undercutrecess 22 in one of its Vfaces, as seen in Figs. 5 and 6,'that eX- tendsto the top ot the emb'ossment. The lower portion of the standard isreduced in width to provide shoulders 23, that rest upon the top or' theembossrn'ent 21, and the side edges 24 of said reduced portion arebeveled or charniered and inserted in the recess 22, after which theembossment and thev reduced lportion ol' the standard are transverselybored and threaded to receive a screw 25,

vthat secures the parts together. lmmedi- Vately in front of theembossment 21, the clamp is provided with;A oppositely disposed verticalchannels 2G, 2G, and the web of metal sepaiating` the channels isreduced in height to a point below the lower edge of recess 22, wherebya relatively narrow neck v 27 is provided that connects the casting ofwhich the clamp 15 is made.

The plates ofglass 28, 28, comprising the vertical Yliront wall of thestructure, are positionedagainst the outer face of the standard 1Q,-with their lower adjacent corners inserted in 'the channels 26, 26,with the lower end edges abutting the vertical sides of the neck 27 thatspacesthe plates apa-rt a distanee'equal to the width oit said neck. Themeans for securing these glass plates in position against the standardcomprises a length of strap metal forming a clamping-strip 29, that isprovided with a vertically elongated slot `Orthrough which a screw 81 ispassed andextends between the edges of `the glass plates, through thestandard where a slotted nut 32 is screwed thereon .to permit thetightening ofthe clamping strip 29, from both sides of the glass plates.

At kthe top of the standard 10, the strip 29 is Apreferably bentlaterally outwardly at 33, inthe horizontal plane of the shelf 11, and

then upwardly a short distance to provide a stop or keeper 8l, againstwhich abuts the outer edge ot the top glass plate 35, disposed flat orhorizontally upon. the shell ll. The strip is now bent rearwardly in ahorizontal plane above the glass plate 35 to provide an upper clampingstrip 36, that extends :ip-

Vproximrdely to the rear end olf the shelf ll,

as shown, where it is secured in position by a clip 37, oi'substantially U-shape. One ot the arms olf the clip 3T is longer thanthe other, so that it extends a distance under the end of the shelf 11,where it is secured in place by a screw 3S, passing through said a...and tapped into the shelf', and the under surface of the opposite orshorter arm is provided with a teat or projection 39, that lits into adepression L10 in the aliuing portion of the upper surface ol theclamping strip 36. ln order to provide soine elasticity of' spring tothis clip and avoid a too rigid clamping of the glass, which is liableto injure or crack the same, l prefer to provide small projection on theinner surface o t the longer arm of the clip between the location oi'the screw 38 and the lateral or connecting web of the clip so that theclip is positioned upon the bracket in what muy be termed inclinedrelation thereto.

From the foregoing it will be seen that l have provided a substantialconnection between the bracket body or frame, which wrought metal, andthe counter clamp, which is a malleable casting. Such a con struction ismuch stronger than an ordinarv casting and is much more economical toinake than an entire malleable or processed casting and a much smoothersui-'tace is obtained. Also single integral clamping strip is providedtor securing both the vertical and the horizontal glass plates to thestandard and shelt, respectively, and the construction and dispositionot the horizontal. upper member lG ot the clamping .strip is such that acontinuous glass top plate cX- tending over several brackets may be em`ployed, instead of short lengths ot glass eX- tending only between twoadjacent brackets as is the general practice. The manner of securing theupright member 29 ot the clamping strip to the standard 10 permits thevertical adjustment of the strip to accommodate and secure glass platesof divers thicknesses upon the shell? without the ncces sity otemploying separate clamping strips for the top and side glass plates. aswould ordinarily be necessary. l am also enabled by the construction andarrangement of the strut 12. to assemble the clamp with the standard andshelf` by welding the corner cleats to these parts. after which thebracket is trued to correct any inaccuracies before the lower end of thestrut is tapped. This permits the truing operation to be per- `formedbefore the strut is riveted to the .slotted embossment and provides alinished article that is stronger and neater in appearance than if ofany other construction, because the parts may be readily finished beforeassembly.

While l have herein disclosed certain specific means for carrying out myinven- A tion, it will be understood the drawings, in

a sense, are merely diagrammatic for the purpose of convenientillustration, and it obvious that changes may be made without affectingthe principles involved. I therefore desire it understood that all suchmodifications or refinements of my invention are contemplated as withinthe scope of my appended claims.

llllhat l claim is l; A. bracket for counter protecting structurescomprising a standard the lower por- `tion of which is reduced in widthto provide a shoulder and the side ed ges of said reduced portion. beingbeveled, a clamp for securing the standard to a counter' having avertical recess undercut therein adapted to receive the reduced andbeveled portion of said standard, and means for securing said standardin said recess.

2. A bracket for counter protecting structures comprising a verticalstandard, a lateral shelf extending from the upper portion thereof,means for securing said standard to a support`l a continuous clampingstrip of substantially Lshape the vertical portion whereof extends theheight of and is positioned adjacent said standard whereby a verticalglass plate may be retained between said strip and standard and thelateral portion. of said strip extends along said shelf to adjacent thefree end thereof whereby a horizontal Q1-lass plate may be retainedbetween said strip and shelf, and means mounted at the free end of saidshelf independent of the bracket and clamping strip for securing saidstrip in position.

3. A counter protecting bracket constructed to receive a horizontalglass plate, a clamping strip secured to said bracket and adapted toextend across said glass plate, a clip of substantially. Ushape one armwhereof is connected to said bracket in inclined relation thereto andthe remaining portion whereof is adapted to extend over the edge of saidglass plate and the adjacent end of said strip and bear upon the uppersurface of the latter and means for varying the inclination of saidinclined arm, whereby divers thicknesses of glass may be retained bvsaid clip.

4. A fitting comprising a clip of substan tially U-shape one arm whereofis adapted to be secured to a support and the opposite arm adapted toengage an element to be clamped on said support, the first-men` tionedarm being provided intermediate its ends with an inwardly disposedprojection and a screw for securing said clip to the support, thelocation of said screw being be tween the projection and the end of saidarm to cause said structure to fulcrurn on said projection upon thetightening of said screw.

5. A bracket for counter protecting structures comprising a memberformed from a strip of sheet metal bent to provide a standard and alateral shelf, angle pieces secured to and extending from said standardand shelf, a brace formed from a strip of sheet metal and secured to theextended lianges of said angle pieces at right angles to the planes ofsaid standard and shelf, and a foot constructed to receive the lowerportions of the standard and brace.

Signed at Chicago, county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 28th dayof March,

MORRIS KURTZON. Witnesses E. K. LUNDY, Jr., BENJ. Roonnousn.`

